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Scouting from the Inside

Legendary Whitetails 10.11.2012

Examining the contents of your harvested deer’s stomach (rumen) can give you a good idea of what all the deer in your area are feeding on.

This is information can assist you in your scouting efforts so you can concentrate on specific areas that produce the preferred food sources and avoid having to cover the entire property. This not only saves you time and energy, it reduces disturbance. A good field guide (book) will help you to determine what types of plants the deer have found appetizing by referencing pictures. Remember that the food that you removed from the stomach is partially digested so it will not look exactly like the original plant or other vegetation. Use clues like seeds from fruit and distinguishing characteristics of leaves from plants. Although many factors influence deer movements, food is certainly high on the list. Find the food, and you will find the deer!